So I took a break from fall premieres last night and stumbled upon Downton Abbey, which did very well at the Emmys recently, and I was very happy that I did. It’s currently running on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on Vision.
I got the distinct impression that the series was a bit of a ways in – but not too far in – so I looked it up on IMDb this morning and found that it was episode three last night. I also took a look at the synopses for episodes one and two – and took care to not go any further so as to not get into a spoiler situation. Here’s the link – be warned to avoid going past episode three if you’re planning on jumping into the series now and don’t want to end up in spoiler land: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606375/
Written by Julien Fellowes (who won the Emmy for Downton Abbey in its category), who also wrote Gosford Park, the series – there will be a season two – boasts an excellent cast, including Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern (the only American in the cast, playing an American, and you may remember her as Timothy Hutton’s love interest in Ordinary People and Gillian Anderson’s friend in House of Mirth). The first season starts with the sinking of the Titanic, during which the heir to Downton Abbey is lost.
Like Gosford Park, we get a view into the downstairs relationships, but unlike Fellowes’ film, we also witness warm regard between upstairs and downstairs folk (there was a lovely scene between Lady Mary and butler Carson in last night’s episode). So far, I’ve seen no cross-stairs hanky panky – though there is a gay (and conniving) footman, Thomas, who put the moves on the handsome guest he was assigned to. Gorgeous art direction and the Abbey is lovely. Plus, Fellowes gives Maggie Smith (the family dowager) such delicious things to say – my favourite I won’t mention as it will spoil this episode for those of you who want to watch it.
Take a look – it’s well worth the hour on a Wednesday night. Besides, what else are you gonna watch till Republic of Doyle returns?
life with more cowbell 
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